Media Watch - Season 28 / Year 2026

Nine newspapers served up Australian Open coverage, but did the ball fall wide of the line? Did the media amplify the Trump administration's narrative around the Minnesota killings? Plus Seven strikes a deal with the Victorian government for glowing coverage of the Melbourne Metro.

The alleged Australian terror attack that almost barely caused a whimper: Did the media miss the story? The radio doctor quietly profiting from the supplement he promotes on air. Plus The Art of Distraction by Andrew Hastie.

A leadership refresh proves the ultimate banquet for Canberra journalists. ASIO rebukes Four Corners which aired accusations of intelligence failures leading up to the Bondi Beach massacre. Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The royal formerly known as Prince Andrew was front page news (almost) everywhere. From political outsider to second-place contender, One Nation's polling surge demands a deeper look at their policies. Plus Olympic spirits: As Nine's coverage concludes, it appears one on-air host took the 'spirit' of the Milan games a bit too literally.

Epic Fury Unleashed: Missiles fly across the Middle East, as the world's media makes tough decisions about what conflict to cover. Ukraine fades from view as the hazards intensify for reporters on the ground. Plus Nine's viewers left none-the-wiser about Dr Nick Coatsworth's telehealth side hustle.

The conflict in Iran marks a new chapter in AI-generated war imagery; The Kylie and Jackie O split marks the $200 million collapse of a high-stakes radio gamble; A British family falls on hard times, as it struggles to afford five holidays. But was the UK Telegraph's yarn accurate?

Allegations of violence made against media mogul Antony Catalano amid the steady decline of his regional news empire. Google AI summaries mean opportunity for big news players, and Armageddon for the little guys. Plus online publisher Crikey wipes articles that fail its own AI rules.

Algorithm addiction: Court finds Google and Meta apps were like drugs of addiction. Predators online: US court finds Facebook distributed child sexual material. Plus Doctor who? Australian Story puffs up a discredited orthopaedic surgeon.

Media blockade: Trump opens a second front, declaring war on CNN's Iran reporting. Plus docu-series 'Aussie Gold Hunters' has been a hit with audiences around the world, but are they serving up real treasure or just fool's gold?

Hungary's new leader vows to restore independence to his country's media following years of dismantling by Viktor Orban. The Racing NSW logo disappears from the pages of the Sydney Morning Herald's form guide. Plus the ACCC fines an Australian company for soliciting undisclosed influencer endorsements.

Kyle and Jackie foes: Court case documents reveal the behind-the-scenes spats were as unsavoury as their breakfast banter. A renewable energy expose by Seven's flagship investigation program Spotlight found to have omitted key facts. Plus the WA shark attack detailed in a UK tabloid that somehow didn't make the news closer to home.

Seven's latest home reno show My Reno Rules promises its audience big prizes, but are viewers really told just how much these "free" giveaways cost? Meta and Google spit the dummy at being asked to pay for news under the Australian government's News Bargaining Incentive. Plus press freedom is officially old-school, having now spiralled to its lowest point in 25 years.

From flight trackers to walking down the plane aisle, no effort was spared to capture the so-called 'ISIS brides' returning home. Australia's biggest bank teams up with Australia's biggest newswire. Plus One Nation's win in the Farrer by-election comes amid a directive to ignore the ABC.

Seven misidentified an ISIS Bride, even after she notified them they had the wrong photo. How GB News leveraged politician-hosts to shake up British elections. Plus the WA shed-home business that used their inside connections for free coverage.

Amid budget fallout, small businesses fight tax changes with memes and a little creative license. Charlie Teo fights against restrictions with a little help from a sympathetic media. Plus the ABC pulls down a school-funding story after questions around accuracy and balance.

Why the juiced-up athletes at the Enhanced Games weren't about selling athletic glory, but pharmaceuticals. The West Australian reports a "blood fuel" between Liberal Andrew Hastie and accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith. Plus Nine News reports a concussion pill as a medical breakthrough.

Turmoil at CBS continues with the firing of longtime '60 Minutes' reporter Scott Pelley, One Nation's playbook of bypassing traditional media for social channels has seen it surpass major parties in popularity. Sportsbet scoring prime position in news bulletins thanks to clever marketing.

The interventions of Elon Musk in the Belfast riots show, again, how he uses his platform X to amplify hate. Plus a preference-flow graph in the Australian Financial Review includes political parties you've never heard of.